Kolam Designs

Kolam is the traditional art of rangoli which is practiced in South India. It is a form of design or pattern, which is usually made with rice powder in courtyards, prayer halls of the house etc. A popular art form amongst south Indian girls and women, it is considered quite auspicious. Moreover, drawing kolam on the threshold of the house, every morning is a common practice in the South India. However, it is a must on the festive occasion. The art of making kolam is quite innovative and pleasurable and even serves as an opportunity to let out your creativity. To know how to make kolam and its various designs, read on.

How to draw Kolam

Kolams are usually made of rice and drawn with bare hands. Apart from rice, Kolam can also be drawn using limestone or sandstone powder. First the design for the Kolam is decided according to the size of the area where it is going to be drawn, the occasion, the type of pattern etc. After this, the outline of the design is drawn by taking a handful of rice powder and dropping it slowly and carefully to make the design, using the thumb and the fingers. After this, different color powders can be used to fill the design.

For the convenience of the people, nowadays, kolam design makers are aslo available in the market. These are plates, boxes which have the design etched with holes provided. When they are filled with kolam powder & tapped on the ground, a lovely kolam design is obtained. Moreover, rollers are also available to make the job easy. These are just rolled over the ground to draw the basic lines, which can then be completed to make a kolam of your choice.

Types of Kolam designs

Kolams are usually designed according to the creativity of the person drawing them. There are a number of kolam designs which can be drawn, such as the geometric patterns, dots and lines.

Pongal Kolam

The most popular Pongal Kolam is the Sankranti Rath (chariot), wherein the ropes of the rath are kept open till the next day. The following day they are joined from house to house to symbolize an uninterrupted cosmic cycle. Other designs drawn on the occasion of Pongal are elephant, carpet design, Pongal designs with sugarcane and overflowing pots and complex geometric patterns with messages of 'Happy Pongal', 'Welcome' and 'Thank You'.

Line kolam

This kolam is drawn using only lines. Line kolams are usually geometric designs, which are drawn in puja rooms.

Pulli kolam

This kolam is drawn essentially using dots. The dots are joined with each other to make a loop or pattern, which appears a sand art on the floor. It is mainly drawn in front of the house.

Neli kolam

It is also called sikku Kolam. The patterns of these Kolam are quite complex. However, its complexity is its specialty.